Family holiday for £2300: how I saved a thousand pounds on a vacation in Greece.

How I Save on Family Holidays

According to The Sun: For some, it's netball or embroidery, but for me - booking trips. I really know how to do it.

Many people shy away from searching for a family holiday, choosing the best resort, and assessing the value, but for me, it's a true delight, and it can save quite a bit of money.

We are a family of four, and I approach this process like a sport. With two children aged 8 and 5, we have already visited numerous wonderful budget-friendly places.

Recently, I got a great deal for a sunny holiday and am ready to share some tips that will be useful for you too.

I carefully analyze flights, hotels, and departure dates, looking for opportunities to save.

It's easier to do this at the end of the school holidays or during the off-season, for example, during the October break, when there are many offers available.

I have been doing this for twenty years, having inherited the habit from my father. Previously, the best discounts could be found at the last minute.

We would pack our bags, and my dad would call Teletext Holidays to take advantage of the same-day deal.

His greatest achievement was booking a flight that was already boarding. Although now that can’t be done anymore.

But even today, getting a good deal is always nice, as it significantly improves the holiday.

Getting a Package Deal

Last year, I saved the most on a family holiday in Greece.

By booking everything separately, I saved over £1000 - that was a third of the cost.

I was very surprised!

Since we had just moved, we hadn't booked anything for the summer, hoping to utilize the garden.

But, as the end of the semester approached, after months of rain, I realized we needed a proper holiday.

I initially contacted a popular travel operator, where I was reviewing offers for all six weeks of the school holiday.

I didn't have a specific airport or destination in mind, and the dates and length of stay were flexible, which offered a wide range of options.

Greece turned out to be the cheapest option, and I settled on the Louis Apostolata Island resort in Kefalonia.

The deal was very attractive: flights from London, a week of half-board at a four-star resort, one suitcase per person, and transfers both ways for £3400.

However, since we hadn't planned a summer holiday, it still exceeded our budget.

Then, I started checking each aspect separately. It turned out we could fly with Ryanair for half the price.

Flight tickets were only £140 round trip with the budget airline.

Since we didn't need four suitcases, we booked only one for the week, saving another £150.

By going to the hotel's website, I discovered that I could book directly with them for a significantly lower price.

Additionally, they had a promotion for a room upgrade by signing up for their newsletter. As a result, we got a better room for less money.

One aspect remained open - the transfers. The package deal included a bus transfer, but it stopped at several other hotels.

When I researched this issue, it turned out that a taxi to the resort cost only £80 return.

Ultimately, even with these costs, we still saved an astonishing £1001 on the entire holiday, which ended up costing £2300.

The money saved was spent on a weekend at Disneyland Paris in October.

Again, I booked everything separately, using the Eurotunnel for the trip to France and booking a hotel near the theme park with a 2-day ticket for a total of £440 for all of us.

Our trip cost just £1300.

Book Carefully

My advice is always to book with reliable suppliers; otherwise, you risk encountering unforeseen costs.

If a very attractive price raises doubts, it may be better to pass it by.

I love organizing holidays myself, but I don't mind package deals; sometimes such offers are truly unbeatable.

Our favorite places to purchase package deals are Jet2holidays and TUI.

Booking a package provides extra protection for your trip due to regulators like ABTA, ATOL, and ABTOT.

This means you can expect a refund in case of issues like flight cancellations or hotel problems - unlike the 'self' option.

For peace of mind, some are willing to pay more and not worry, but mass disasters during a holiday are rare, so I'm willing to take the risk.

Organizing trips independently not only saves money but also brings satisfaction. Each of us can find our perfect vacation if approached knowledgeably.

The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment, look for new options, and, of course, enjoy the travel process!